Hazel E. McMurdo, 35, housewife, saved Russell O. Erickson, 15, schoolboy, from drowning, Creston, Montana, August 2, 1954. Russell, a fair swimmer, was swimming in Lake Blaine when he suffered cramps in both legs and got into difficulty in water 12 feet deep 130 feet from shore. His cries for help were heard by Mrs. McMurdo, also a fair swimmer, and her hushand, who were about to enter the water near a pier at the beach. Knowing her hushand was a poor swimmer, Mrs. McMurdo ran 60 feet to the end of the pier and dived into the water. She swam 70 feet to near Russell as he sank beneath the surface. Mrs. McMurdo submerged herself and grasped Russell’s hair but lost her hold. As each surfaced separately, Russell grasped Mrs. McMurdo’s shoulders, forcing both beneath the surface. Mrs. McMurdo freed herself from Russell’s grasp and then pushed him to the surface, where she first became aware that her hushand had followed her and was nearby. Mrs. McMurdo then pushed Russell 50 feet toward the pier by submerging intermittently and thrusting against his back. She then became too weak to continue her efforts alone, and her hushand grasped Russell by one arm while Mrs. McMurdo took hold of the other arm. Together they towed Russell 30 feet farther to the side of the pier, where they climbed out of the water. Russell was aided onto the pier by others and recovered quickly. Mrs. McMurdo was near exhaustion and suffered head and chest pains. She rested for an hour and recovered completely the following day. 43547-4078
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